TRENTON — Another set of eyes will look into the alleged beating of a young man at the hands of Trenton police.

The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office announced Wednesday it is involved with investigating the incident that occurred when city resident Tyrell Green was returning home from work on June 8 at midnight when he was approached by Trenton police.

“Our Internal Affairs unit is working in conjunction with Trenton’s Internal Affairs Unit on the investigation into Mr. Green’s allegations,” prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Casey DeBlasio said in an email. “Unfortunately, I can’t provide you with any specifics at this time.”

An internal affairs investigation from Trenton police started Friday in response to a story published the same day in The Trentonian of the documented attack.

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Trenton Police Director Ralph Rivera Jr. said Wednesday the reason the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office is looking into the allegations because his department notified them of the incident in accordance with guidelines from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

“Any time there is an allegation of criminal activity, in this case excessive use of force, we notify the prosecutor’s office of those allegations,” Rivera said. “We’re being very transparent in that respect.”

Rivera added no officers have been disciplined because the incident is still under investigation.

Green caught audio of the alleged assault on his cell phone because he was recording a conversation with a friend when cops could be heard asking him to put his hands up.

“I didn’t do anything,” the 20-year-old black male pleads to police in the recording, repeatedly asking officers “what did I do?”

When Green told one of the cops “I want your badge number too,” a commotion could be heard, followed by an “ow” from Green.

The city resident provided a photo to The Trentonian of the facial injuries from the punch he says he received in the alleged incident.

Green also went to St. Francis Medical Center early Sunday morning seeking treatment for his injuries after he was released from police custody.

Hospital records, provided by Green, show that he sustained a bruise from the alleged beating.

Green, who works for Walmart in Hamilton, said he had just gotten off the bus and was walking the rest of the way home on Chambers Street near Ashmore Avenue, when he was stopped by Trenton police because they were responding to a report of a man with a gun.

The only thing police found on the shipping and receiving employee was a safety knife that he is required to carry at work to open boxes, Green said.

Green said he was in police custody for two hours and was given the option to stay in jail until Monday or receive a ticket for disorderly conduct.

The Mercer High School graduate said he opted to take the ticket signed by Trenton police officer Luis E. Cosme.

The offense summary obtained by The Trentonian states, “Listed party did yell and curse at officers while conducting an investigation of a man with a gun.”

Attorney Robin Lord said she was retained Tuesday by Green.

“Officer Cosme should resign now,” she said.

This is the third reported incident of excessive force used by Trenton police during the last year and a half.

In December 2012, Steven Jennette ended up in a coma for two days after being taken into custody by Trenton police.

Jennette remembers being punched and sprayed with pepper spray by city police before waking up at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton.

An internal affairs investigation was initiated after that incident, but the outcome remains unknown.

In February 2012, video from La Guira Bar captured city police officers allegedly using excessive force in two arrests.

There are pending civil lawsuits against the city and the Trenton Police Department for the actions of the officers that night. Officer Nidia Colon is also facing criminal official misconduct charges for her role in one arrest.

Lord is representing both alleged victims in the La Guira Bar arrests.

“It’s my intention to take all these matters to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and have an independent investigation into the Trenton Police Department and the complete lack of respect for the citizen,” Lord said. “Not only does it in result serious bodily injury, but it also results in death. Enough is enough.”

About the Author

Originally from Webster, N.Y., David has been a reporter in N.J. for the past three years (first in Phillipsburg and now in Trenton).He is a Temple alum who interned at the Philadelphia Daily News. Reach the author at dfoster@trentonian.com
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